The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 17

WEDNESDAY. MARCH 13. 1946. THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR. PAGE, 47 Rigorous Training Gives Fort Wayne Court Squad Staying Power Speedway Committee Plans Will Coach Panthers aaor lated I'rest Irrphoto) To Greet Racing Fans May 30 Pitt Appoints Fesler Head Grid Mentor JTF SOIL WHY? By W.

BLAINE PATTON, Sports Editor The Star QUT at Victory Field they are dolling up the plant in spick and span order. The dressup will be completed in time for the opener of the season with the Toledo Mud Hens on the night of April 17. Rankin Assumes Duties As Assistant At Purdue Lafayette, March 12 (Spl.) Dave Rankin, one of the greatest football and track athletes in Purdue history, who was recently discharged as a captain in the Marine Flying Corps, has returned to his alma mater as instructor in physical education and assistant coach in l. vr- i (l I varsity sports, It was announced today by Guy (Red) Mackey, director of athletics. k.

Dr. E. Rogers Smith (left) yesterday was reappointed chief of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's medical staff by Wilbur Shaw (right), Speedway president. A staff of approximately 120 doctors and nurses will be maintained on the Speedway grounds during the actual running of the 500-mile classic, according to tentative plans of Dr. Smith.

There will be a central hospital, eight first-aid stations and 12 ambulances on the grounds. Ten physicians and surgeons have been appointed to the examining staff before which drivers must appear before start of qualifying trials, Dr. Smith said. A consultation staff of 11 medical men also has been selected. MEMBERS OF the examining staff will be Drs.

Louis D. Belden, Frederick Taylor, C. B. Bohner, Hamilton Row, Paul Merrill, Earl W. Mericle, Alexander T.

Ross, J. Edwin Tether, Robert Pickett and Paxton J. Powell. The consultation staff will consist of Drs. E.

Vernon Hahn, Kenneth Kohlstaedt, Edwin W. Dyar, Charles Thompson, David F. Boyd, D. L. Smith, Norman M.

Beatty, Allan K. Harcourt, Russell J. Spivey, Robert Dearmin and Harold Trusler. By Rl'DY CERNKOMC Pittsburgh, March 12 (UP) The University of Pittsburgh today named Wesley Fesler, all-time Ohio State athletic great, as head football coach. Fesler's surprise appointment was interpreted as another bid by Pitt to gain membership in the Western Conference.

A membership in the Big Ten was vacated last week by the University of Chicago. Fesler has close ties and fast friends in the Big Ton, including Lynn W. St. John, veteran athletic director at Ohio State. The appointment, announced by Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald, up set the dope in the local sports world, which was unaware that the Youngstown (O.) native was being considered.

Tire BOARD of trustees voted unanimously for Fesler upon the recommendation of Athletic Director James Hagan and the faculty committee on athletics. Salary terms for his three-year contract were not revealed. Fesler will take over the slot vacated Feb. 4 by T-Master Clark D. Shaughnessy, who resigned when he was ordered to sever his connections with the Washington Redskins.

The 37-year-old Fesler, now an assistant coach at Princeton, ranks among Ohio State's all-time great defensive ends and offensive fullbacks. He was named on several all-American teams in 1928 and 1929 and was an unanimous choice on the mythical team in 1930. In his last year at the Buckeye campus Fesler, captain of the team, was named the most valuable player in the Big Ten, FESLER WAS a three-letter man in football, baseball and basketball. He played guard in the latter sport and was chosen on the all-Conference team In 1930-31. Told of his appointment by telephone, Fesler, who is still at Princeton, registered mild surprise.

"I knew I was being considered, but I didn't think anything would be done about it so soon. Naturally, I'm happy and mighty pleased." Upon graduation from Ohio State, Fesler turned down a lucrative offer from the Chicago Cardinals and remained at his alma mater as assistant football conch for two seasons. In 1933 he moved to Harvard, where he was head basketball and baseball coach and assisted Head Football Coach Dick Harlow. IN 1942 FESLER took over the football and basketball duties at Connecticut Wesleyan where he remained until September, 1944, when he took a leave of absence to join Gen. "Wild Bill" Donovan's staff in the Office of Strategic Services.

In February, 1945, Fesler he-came assistant football and head basketball coach at Princeton. Fesler's assistants will he two former Pitt linemen, Charley (Doc) Hartwig, a holdover from the Shaughnessy regime, and Walter (Mike) Milligan, until recently assistant football coach at Tulsa. Coach Says Chances "As Good As Any" By JDI MITCHELL Fort Wayne, March 12 CP) A talk with Murray Menden-hall, the graying little man who has occupied the basketball coach's office in the Central High School gymnasium the past 22 years, is an interesting experience any time of the year. But in the middle of March particularly if Murray's Tigers are still scratching in the fight for the state hardwood championship it's almost unforgettable. Mendenhall has a pet phrase, "As good as any." He uses it almost to excess in discussing his 1946 basketball team.

He believes the team is "about as good as any" he has turned out in the gym at the corner of Lewis and Clinton Streets. But he makes it clear that he finds no basis for accurate comparison with his great teams of the past say the 1943 state champions, for instance. He feels his chances of adding another championship at the Butler Field House Saturday are "as good as any." FURTHER questioning established that, to Mendenhall's way of thinking, the fast break is "as good as any" means of scoring enough points to win, and that the way his ace guard, Bobby Milton, operates in that system is "as good as any." The fact of the matter is that Murray's record is about the only thing about Central basketball that doesn't come under that heading. And the wily Mendenhall says nothing at all of the fact that he's coached the Tigers to all their nine regional and four semifinal championships. Mendenhall will gather his flock for the journey to Indianapolis early Friday.

The Tigers will practice on the Butler floor Friday and the chances are they'll scrimmage that near to game time. Mendenhall sent them through a scrimmage last Friday at Muncie, and he had them hustling through more of the same yesterday. THE BELIEF is that Mendenhall's rigorous training routine is responsible for Central's amazing staying power in the close games. The Tigers run and run and never get tired. Furthermore, they'll go to Indianapolis as sound as $10, with one exception.

That's Delmar Blanks, the sophomore guard who twisted a knee in the regionals. Blanks did not dress for the Muncie semi-final and he still is missing from classes for treatments. He may not be one of the touran-ment 10 for Central. Mendenhall's rangy first string is set, however. He'll start Budd Altekruse and Bob Cox at forwards, Joe Biggs at center and Lowell Shearer and Milton at guards.

All are seniors and all but Cox and Shearer reach or clear the 6-foot mark in height. Cox, and Shearer each are 5 feet 10 inches tall. MILTON, collector of 41 points against Richmond and Gas City last Saturday, is the biggest scoring threat. Mendenhall admits that. But any of the four others are "as good as anybody else" but Milton when it comes to throwing the hide through the hoop.

Central, well fortified with scouting information from the other semi-finals, will work hard Wednesday and Thursday before leaving for Indianapolis. Here's the roster: Position CIn HefcM Weight Budd Altekruse. SK 8-1 Bob Cox sr 5.10 148 Joe Blggj SK 6-2 72 Lowell SR 5-10 15S Boh Milton SR 6 1: Delmar SO S-S 15(1 Paul Blinks SR fl-8 155 Larry Clevenger SR 5-8 140 Ned SO S-lO'i 148 John SO 5-10 160 Dirk Miller 80 5-11 160 Delvln Sim SO 5-11 165 S8rJ WESLEY FESLER Three Cage Title Contenders Will Drill At Fairview Three of the four teams in Saturday's state high school basketball finals have scheduled practices at the Butler Fieldhouse floor for tomorrow and Friday afternoons. Flora, Central of Evansvllle and Central of Fort Wayne are the squads which will test the Butler hardwood. The Badgers will work out tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o'clock and Evansvllle will follow at 3:30.

Fort Wayne will practice at 5 o'clock Friday afternoon. Anderson, the other finalist, has not requested use of the fieldhouse floor before Saturday, having played twice on it In the semi-llnal meet last week. ON THE EVE of the finnl series the Indiana High School Coaches' Association again has made plans for Its spring dinner meeting. The event will be held at Ihe Antlers Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

President Charles MeConnell of Lognnsport will preside at the meeting, An addre.su of welcome will be given by IIISAA Commissioner L. V. Phillips. Garrett G. Eppley of Indiana University will speak on "Recreations." A report on basketball rules changes will be given by Jack O'Neil, vice-president of the Indiana Officials' Association.

A report by the nominating committee on election of officers for 1946-47 will be given. John Wilson Resigns As Navy's Net Coach Annapolis, March 12 (-T) Johnny Wilson, Navy basketball conch since 1927, has resigned from that position, the Naval Academy announced today. The Navy snld that Wilson would retain his post as chief physical training Instructor and also would serve on the football coaching staff during the DAVE RANKIN in Columbus, plan to join him there in the near future. Fehrlng was discharged from the Navy recently. BLUE ROOM "Long Gj.

Famous" FOR WMmFOOD 3f ltlh and Penn. hi OIlAVf.YNN HOTEL 3 DAYS SERVICE you us MIAN! IITIH CIIANIN0 For location ot niartst itoro phono Wabash 4521 JtlC The newest addition to the Purdue athletic staff, who won all-American honors as an end in football in 1940 and is co-holder of the American indoor record of 6.9 seconds for the 60-yard low hurdles, assumed his new duties this afternoon immediately after signing. A native of Warsaw, Rankin had a distinguished athletic career at Purdue before, his graduation in 1941. He won three major letters In football and captained the 1940 eleven on which he was named "the most valuable player." In addition he was one of the ranking Middle Western collegiate hurdlers. FOLLOWING his graduation, he was named on the college all-star squad in 1941 and was elected by his mates as captain of the collegiate combination which appeared in the annual charity game.

Rankin's military career started the night of the all-star game when he was sworn into service between halves. As a Marine fighter pilot, Dave made two tours of duty in the South Pacific, flying nearly 150 missions on bombing, strafing, escort and fighter sweep assignments. He was credited with downing two enemy planes in combat and was' awarded four air medals for his accomplishments. He was honorably discharged as a captain Feb. 15.

Rankin's wife, Ann, and their Infant son, David Thomas, four months old, are living temporarily with relatives in Columbia City. Takes Oklahoma Post Columbus, March 12 (Spl.) Paul (Dutch) Fehrlng, a member of the Purdue coaching staff the past several years, has accepted a position as assistant to Jim Tat.im, head football coach at the University of Oklahoma. Fehrlng assumed his new duties at Oklahoma this week. His wife and two daughters, now residing Doyle "Out Of Danger" Cleveland, March 12 (tff Jimmy Doyle, Log Angeles fighter, was reported "out of danger" today, more than 12 hours after he received a brain concussion In a bout he lost to Artie Levlne, Brooklyn, on a technical knockout. County hospital attendants said Doyle suffered subdural hemorrhages for a time.

mm CUSTOM RECAPPING KNOERLE TIRE CO. Fy 2421 N. Meridian-TA. 3371 I'M: THE NEW paint Job being done throughout the grandstand presents a riot of colors. The season box holders will bask in their ehoice sests of canary yellow; the regular box seats will sport navy blue; the reserved seats will be orange and the general admission customers will be in a background of green.

-4- -t- -T- ON THE ROOF the new press boxes and those for club officials are about three-fourths completed. With insulated roofs and ventilators these are a big improvement over those used in former years. -4- H- EVEN THE scoreboard is having its face lifted as well as enlarged. Instead of plain results of games in both major leagues and the American Association the new arrangement will carry scores by innings as the games progress in other cities. THERE WILL BE some delay in the plan to increase the lighting facilities at the park.

The cause of this is due to the General Electric strike. Victory field is one of the very few baseball plants in the United States which does not allow advertising signs on the outfield fences, and yet it shows a bigger profit in another way by medium of the storecards. What is lost on fence advertising is made up on these cards, in fact, more than the totals from the two sources in any other park in the circuit. The only exception in fence advertising during the war were two free ones urging patrons to buy bonds. -i- AL SCHLENSKER, treasurer of the club, said yesterday that there had been a heavy advance sale for the opener against Toledo but that there still was available many good seats.

AU seats in the grandstand will be reserved that night. Sports In Shorts JUST A REMINDER about tickets for our All-Star basketball game to be held June 21 at the Fairgrounds Coliseum and in answer to a number of queries no reservations are being made at this time. Full detils will be published in due time. IN AMERICAN League play last season the Philadelphia Athletics held the dubious honor of having the "losingest" pitcher in the circuit in Buck Newsom. The voluble Bobo, winning eight games, lost a total of 20.

He won none from Washington while taking six defeats from the Nats, and big Bobo won but one game from Detroit while losing five. And Steve Gerkin of the Athletics finished with a record of no victories and an even 12 defeats. -i- SPEAKING OF scoring, for years basketball coaches, players and fans have pondered the question of "home court advantages" All have admitted there is such a ming uui tumuli i agree um ine amount. Based on results of 124 out of the National Basketball League's 136 scheduled games the home court advantage in the pro league averages 7.3 points. Biggest home court advantage in the league is held by Oshkosh witn a mars or n.o points, usn-kosh, winning 12 of 17 games at home, had an average scoring of 9.2 plus.

While losing 10 of 15 games away from home, Oshkosh had a spread of minus 2.4, Rochester piled up a mark of 10.2 plus at home while winnning 13 of 16 games and a mark of .03 minus while losing 7 of IS on the road for a net home court advantage of just a little over 10.2. Chicago's home court advantage was 10.8 points. Here in Indianapolis the home advantage was .03 minus for the Kautskys. Lose Cuban Pitcher A REPORT from Mexico City last night stated that Natilla (Pedro) Jiminer, Indianapolis right-handed pitcher, had reported to Monterey in the Mexican outlaw league. A telephone call to Bill Burwell, manager of the Indians, at De Land, revealed that he had been expecting Jimuiez to report this week at the training camp.

Bill recently went to Havana to confer with Jiminez and the latter had promised him that he would return to the Tribe for chances to advance to the majors. The Mexican League opens its season March 21. Janisch, Schoon Get Pro Tryouts John Janisch and Milt Schoon, two stars with the Valparaiso University basketball team, will be given tryouts with the Indianapolis Kautskys tonight at Rensselaer. The Kautskys are bolstering their lineup for the pro tournament to start March 25 in Chicago. In order to get the team in condition for the tourney, the Kautsky management is scheduling exhibition games through the state.

Any team wanting to schedule the Kautskys is requested to write Abe Goldsmith, 535 South Illinois Street. Sunday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, the Kautskys will meet the House of David team at the Armory. In the prelim at 1 o'clock Broad Ripple American Legion will meet Danville A.C. Pasha, Ncnoff Win Armory Feature Ali Pasha, 198, Calcutta, India, and Steve Nenoff, 190, Toledo, defeated Rene LaBelle, 188, Toronto, and Maurice Chappell, 189, Newark, N.J., in the Australian tag-team match which featured last night's Hercules A.C. wrestling show at the Armory.

LaBelle won the first fall In 26 minutes when he pinned Nenoff with a double leg bar. Pasha evened the score in 18 minutes when he subdued Chappell with a cobra hold and Nenoff ended the affair when ho also put Chappell out of commission in eight minutes with a Boston crab. Whitey Wahlberg, 190, Columbus, used a short arm scissors to beat Buck Lipscomb, 188, Indianapolis, in 20 minutes of the curtain-raiser. A capacity crowd witnessed the show and several hundred fans were turned away. fVfWUCTo Plans for welcoming the thousands of out-of-town visitors expected here for the first post-war 500-mile race May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are being studied by a special Speedway committee of the Chamber of Commerce, Carl H.

Wallerich, committee chairman, said yesterday. At the same time Wilbur Shaw, Speedway president, announced reappointment of Dr. E. Rogers Smith as chief of the track's medical staff. Dr.

Smith, the Speedway's physician in pre-war days, recently was discharged after having served as a commander in the Navy Medical Corps in the South Pacific. THE WELCOMING committee plans publication of information posters, special reception badges for the Indianapolis police department, a central Information bureau, distribution of street and highway maps showing best routes to pie Speedway and airport reception committees for the hundreds of race fans expected to fly here. Col. A. W.

Herrington heads the airport recept ion group. Aching Muscles Plague Indians Deland, March 12 (Spl.) Veterans and rookies alike today showed the effects of spring training activities as the Indianapolis Baseball Club went through its second drill. Aching muscles served as reminders of the opening workout and there were few solid drives rattling off Tribe bats during a long hitting practice. Manager Bill Burwell also sent his charges through a brief infield session to conclude the day's activities. Ownie Bush, club president, arrived late last night after spending several days on the lower East coast and at the camp of the Boston Braves in Fort Lauderdale.

Pure Oil, Mallory Gain Final Round The Pure Oil and P. R. Mallory basketball teams will meet tomorrow night at 8:30 o'clock for the city independent championship as a result of winning their semifinal contests at the Sacred Heart gym last nighfC Pure Oil defeated Y.M.C.A, Reps, 38 to 28, and Mallory, the defending champion, tripped Kin-gan, 33 to 30, in last night's games. Ray Bottema paced the Pure Oil squad with 12 points while Bob Lollar led Mallory with ll Kingan and 30th Street Garage, who tied for first place in the Thursday night league, will play the preliminary game tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock. Wins Overtime Tilt Our Lady of Lourdes won an overtime game from Holy Trinity, 18 ot 16, in the C.Y.O.

Cadet basketball tournament at Ihe Cathedral gym last night. In other games last night St. Philip's No. 1 downed St. John's, 35 to 17; Little Flower turned back St.

Catherine, 28 to 15, and Sacred Heart defeated Holy Cross, 24 to 17. The tourney will be resumed tomorrow night. Allison Wins Title Allison defeated U. S. Tire, 29 to 24, last night at the Howe High School gym in the play-off for the Big Six Industrial League championship.

The teams each had 11 victories and four setbacks in the regular season which ended last week. Chrlstimore Veterans desire a basketball frame tonight on their home floor. Call Belmont 1175. A meeting of Ihe aenior baseball team will be held at the Chrietamore bouK at 8 o'clock tonight. Tonlcht'n Y.M.C.A.

baaketball nchMult follows: 7:20. Farm Bureau v. Brldce-port; 8:20, Broad Ripple v. The Star; 9:20, Lincoln Chiropractors v. Zollnen.

Lafayette Gains Title Bethlehem, March 12 UP) Lafayette won the Middle Atlantic states college basketball tournament here tonight by defeating Rutgers, 52 to 39. I Hockey Results NATIONAL LEAGUE Boston 3, New York 2. V. S. LEAGUE Omaha 4, St.

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Keep asing for El Producto! We are shipping more and more every day and we hope it will not be long before Jay Knapp Divides Two Cue Matches The perfect record of Jay Knapp in the slate three-cushion billiard Championship tournament at the Board of Trade parlor was marred last night when the South Bend star was defeated by Harry Cooler, 50 to 48, in 74 innings. Knapp took high-run honors with a five against his opponent's four. The setback was the first for Knapp in six engagements. Knapp staged a stirring rally to conquer Joe Bogue in the second contest on the night's program, 50 to 43, in 87 innings. Knapp again took high-run laurels with a six against his foe's four.

BOGIE HELD a 43-to-33 lead late in this match, but he "turned cold" and failed to score another point while Knapp racked up 17 to go out. Knapp's setback left Defending Titleholder Lou Spivey and Walter Ramsey tied for first place with six victories each. Hi Johnson and Virgil Healy of Mishawaka will meet at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Players and officials will hold their annual banquet at the Athenaeum at 5:30 and Ramsey and Healy will shoot it out starting at 8:15 o'clock. Camp Atterbury Gains Hardwood Semi-Finals Atlanta, March 12 (JPt Second seeded Camp Atterbury, Indiana, defeated the Navy's 16th Fleet team from Green Cove Springs, in the American Basketball Congress tournament tonight, 56-39, to enter the semifinals.

The Navy team, behind at the half, 32-17, rallied strongly in the second period. Meyer Skoog led the attack with 10 points as 16th Fleet pulled up to 37-34 with eight minutes to play. Camp Atterbury, led by Otis Spears, who scored 18 points, spurted to take a commanding lead of 49-35 with four minutes left. Jorreal enjoyment 1 ciziziiiizizixb K. Delawara LI.

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